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Veterinary surgery : VS2021; 50(5); 1107-1116; doi: 10.1111/vsu.13611

Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation into the spinal cord of healthy adult horses undergoing cervical ventral interbody fusion.

Abstract: To determine the feasibility of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC) transplantation into the cervical spinal cord of horses by using fluoroscopy with or without endoscopic guidance and to evaluate the neurological signs and tissue reaction after injection. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Eight healthy adult horses with no clinical signs of neurological disease. Methods: After cervical ventral interbody fusion (CVIF), ten million fluorescently labeled allogeneic UC-MSC were injected into the spinal cord under endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance (n = 5) or fluoroscopic guidance only (n = 3). Postoperative neurological examinations were performed, and horses were humanely killed 48 hours (n = 4) or 14 days (n = 4) postoperatively. Spinal tissues were examined after gross dissection and with bright field and fluorescent microscopy. Results: Needle endoscopy of the cervical canal by ventral approach was associated with intraoperative spinal cord puncture (2/5) and postoperative ataxia (3/5). No intraoperative complications occurred, and one (1/3) horse developed ataxia with cell transplantation under fluoroscopy alone. Umbilical cord-derived MSC were associated with small vessels and detected up to 14 days in the spinal cord. Demyelination was observed in six of eight cases. Conclusions: Fluoroscopically guided intramedullary UC-MSC transplantation during CVIF avoids spinal cord trauma and decreases risk of ataxia from endoscopy. Umbilical cord-derived MSC persist in the spinal cord for up to 14 days. Cell injection promotes angiogenesis and induces demyelination of the spinal tissue. Conclusions: Umbilical cord-derived MSC transplantation into the spinal cord during CVIF without endoscopy is recommended for future evaluation of cell therapy in horses affected by cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy.
© 2021 The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2021-03-11 PubMed ID: 33709467DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13611Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study investigates the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (derived from umbilical cord) into the spinal cords of healthy adult horses, examining the feasibility of this procedure while incorporating endoscopic or fluoroscopic guidance. The research aims to discover the effects of this procedure on neurological signs and tissue reaction post-transplantation.

Methodology

  • The study was structured as an experiment, involving eight adult horses without any signs of neurological disease.
  • These horses went through a particular kind of spinal surgery known as a cervical ventral interbody fusion (CVIF), post which ten million fluorescently labeled allogeneic umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSC) were transplanted into the animals’ spinal cords.
  • Five of these injections were guided both endoscopically and fluoroscopically, while the remaining three were guided just by fluoroscopy.
  • After the surgical procedures, the horses underwent post-operative neurological examination, and they were euthanized either 48 hours or 14 days post-surgery for further examination of their spinal tissues.

Results

  • The endoscopic procedure was occasionally linked with puncture injuries to the spinal cord during operation and postoperative ataxia (a lack of muscle coordination).
  • There were no complications during the course of the operation, and only one horse demonstrated signs of ataxia when the transplantation was conducted with fluoroscopic guidance alone.
  • The transplanted UC-MSC appeared to remain viable within the spinal cord for a period of up to 14 days, with the cells showing association with small vascular structures.
  • Interestingly, demyelination, a condition involving loss of insulation around nerve fibers, was witnessed in six out of the eight cases.

Conclusion

  • The researchers concluded that transplantations performed under fluoroscopic guidance were able to avoid spinal cord trauma more successfully and reduced the chance of developing postoperative ataxia compared to the endoscopy procedure.
  • The transplanted cells were found to be lasting within the spinal cord for up to 14 days, and also seemed to aid in blood vessel formation while also being related to demyelination of the spinal cord tissue.
  • Given these findings, the study recommends further evaluation of transplantation of UC-MSC into the spinal cord during CVIF without endoscopy, especially in horses suffering from cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy, a condition causing spinal cord compression.

Cite This Article

APA
François I, Lepage OM, Carpenter E, Desjardins I, De Guio C, Benedetti IC, Maddens S, Saulnier N, Grant BD. (2021). Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation into the spinal cord of healthy adult horses undergoing cervical ventral interbody fusion. Vet Surg, 50(5), 1107-1116. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13611

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 50
Issue: 5
Pages: 1107-1116

Researcher Affiliations

François, Isé
  • University of Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Veterinary Campus of Lyon, GREMERES-ICE Lyon Equine Research Center, France.
Lepage, Olivier M
  • University of Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Veterinary Campus of Lyon, GREMERES-ICE Lyon Equine Research Center, France.
Carpenter, Elaine
  • Cave Creek Equine Surgical and Diagnostic Imaging Center, Phoenix, Arizona, United States.
Desjardins, Isabelle
  • University of Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Veterinary Campus of Lyon, GREMERES-ICE Lyon Equine Research Center, France.
De Guio, Cécile
  • University of Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Veterinary Campus of Lyon, GREMERES-ICE Lyon Equine Research Center, France.
Benedetti, Inga-Catalina Cruz
  • University of Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Veterinary Campus of Lyon, GREMERES-ICE Lyon Equine Research Center, France.
Maddens, Stéphane
  • Vetbiobank, Marcy L'Etoile, France.
Saulnier, Nathalie
  • Vetbiobank, Marcy L'Etoile, France.
Grant, Barrie D
  • Equine Consultant, Bonsall, California, United States.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Ataxia / prevention & control
  • Ataxia / veterinary
  • Cervical Vertebrae / surgery
  • Endoscopy / adverse effects
  • Endoscopy / veterinary
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Fluoroscopy
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / veterinary
  • Postoperative Complications / veterinary
  • Spinal Cord Compression / surgery
  • Spinal Cord Compression / veterinary
  • Spinal Fusion / methods
  • Spinal Fusion / veterinary

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This article includes 27 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Aeri A, Gorla M, Sharma GT. Veterinary Regenerative Medicine: The Evolving Role of Stem Cell-Based Therapies. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2025 Nov;21(8):2484-2510.
    doi: 10.1007/s12015-025-10963-zpubmed: 40900287google scholar: lookup
  2. Mili B, Choudhary OP. Advancements and mechanisms of stem cell-based therapies for spinal cord injury in animals. Int J Surg 2024 Oct 1;110(10):6182-6197.
    doi: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000001074pubmed: 38265419google scholar: lookup
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